Lowe’s Companies said it will close 51 stores in the United States and Canada, the latest national retailer to shed its brick and mortar locations amid increasing e-commerce competition. On Monday, the home improvement giant announced it will shutter 20 stores in the U.S. — including two in Manhattan — and 31 stores in Canada, according to the Wall Street Journal. The closures affect 13 states, including four locations in California and two in Illinois. […]